On February 14, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Economic Impact and Diversity (ED) hosted its 2023 Black History Month (BHM) Observance Ceremony, in honor of the many contributions and achievements of Black Americans in the energy sector and Department-wide. This year’s ceremony recognized the gains achieved by Black Americans in the face of discrimination, through the dedicated efforts of individuals, organizations, and communities.
In A Proclamation on National Black History Month, 2023, President Biden reflected on how the tenacity of Black Americans helped lay the foundation for other minority communities to thrive: “Black Americans have made a way not only for themselves but also have helped build a highway for millions of women, immigrants, other historically marginalized communities, and all Americans to more fully experience the benefits of our society.”
During DOE’s BHM Observance Ceremony, Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm and Director Shalanda H. Baker emphasized the need for the Department to be intentional about ending discrimination in the energy industry by ensuring that all people of color and low-income communities are included and considered in our energy transition.
“As a Department it is our goal to place Black, Indigenous, people of color, and low-income communities at the core of our energy transition,” said Director Baker. “It is our goal to continue to build on the history of those who have come before us to continue the fight to tackle the climate crisis—we are all in this together.”
Secretary Granholm expounded on that history by highlighting the work of Dr. Samuel P. Massie, Jr., a Black chemist and one of the pioneering scientists on the Manhattan Project in World War II. “Despite his obvious brilliance, Dr. Massie was kept down—quite literally,” said Secretary Granholm, who described how Massie worked on this government-backed project under far worse conditions than his white colleagues, in the building basement.
Official news published at https://www.energy.gov/diversity/articles/growing-beyond-legacy-doe-celebrates-black-history-month
